A MAN has been charged after officers were called to reports of a person with a knife close to Braintree Village.

Police officers were called to Cressing Road, Braintree, yesterday evening following reports a man had been seen carrying a knife.

Following a search, the man was arrested and subsequently charged.

He is due to appear in court on August 10.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "We received a 999 call to Cressing Road in Braintree yesterday evening, Wednesday, July 12 to reports that a man was in the area with a knife.

"Officers arrived within 15 minutes of the call and found a knife after carrying out a search.

"A man was arrested on suspicion of having a bladed article in a public place. He was later charged and is due to appear in court on August 10."